Super compact archery bow technology

ABSTRACT

The crossbow includes a frame, a first limb and a second limb connected to the frame, a first cam and a second cam mounted on opposite sides of an axis of arrow travel, a string connecting the first cam and the second cam, a first cable connecting the first cam and the first limb, and a second cable connecting the second cam and the second limb. The first cam and the second cam are mounted on a holder of the first cam and a holder of the second cam. The first cam is arranged entirely between the axis of arrow travel and a loose end of the first limb. The second cam is arranged entirely between the axis of arrow travel and a loose end of the second limb. The crossbow reduces overall dimensions of an arrow throwing device while maintaining arrow speed by changing a traditional position of cams.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. Section 120 fromU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/965,482, filed on 27 Apr. 2018,entitled “ SUPER COMPACT ARCHERY BOW TECHNOLOGY”. See also ApplicationData Sheet.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS-WEB)

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINTINVENTOR

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices for throwing arrows, inparticular, to bows and crossbows.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.

Arrow throwing devices are known, such as bows and crossbows. Forinstance, U.S. Pat. No. 8,651,095 discloses the crossbow comprising theframe, the first limb and the second limb mounted on the frame so thatone end of each limb is secured to the frame, and another end of eachlimb is the loose end. The first cam and the second cam are mounted atthe loose ends of the first limb and the second limb, respectively. Thefirst cam and the second cam are connected with the string. In addition,the first cable and the second cable are attached to the first cam andthe second cam, respectively, and the other ends of the cables areconnected to the projections provided on the frame. Due to the use ofcams and cables, the firing speed can be increased. However, sucharrangement of the first cam and the second cam at the respective looseends of the limbs causes the increase in crossbow dimensions, becauseportions of the cams project beyond the bow dimensions defined by thelimbs. This makes usage and transportation of the known crossbowdifficult.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,958 discloses the bow having a complex system ofcams and spools forming the integral complex system. In this device,like in the above crossbow, the elements of the complex system arearranged at the loose ends of the limbs, thus increasing bow dimensionsand making usage and transportation thereof quite difficult.

It is also known the bow disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,867, whereinthe cams are used which actually work as pulleys, or spools, connectingmiddle portions of the limbs with one of the loose ends of the limbs.The configuration of this known device needs be more sophisticated, asshown in this patent, and requires somewhat longer limbs to provide ahigh arrow speed. Consequently, it looks impossible to reduce overalldimensions by exclusion of the elements affecting tension of the stringbecause the limbs must be longer to keep arrow speed high.

Therefore, there is the need to reduce overall dimensions of the arrowthrowing device while maintaining essential technical characteristicsthereof, such as the firing speed of an arrow.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the mentioned above problem of reductionof overall dimensions of an arrow throwing device while maintaining ahigh arrow speed by changing a traditional position of cams. Inparticular, instead of arranging the cams at loose ends of limbs it issuggested to mount the cams within an area defined by an axis of arrowtravel and a corresponding loose end of the limb. In a crossbow, theaxis of arrow travel extends approximately along a crossbow frame, andin a bow, it extends approximately transversely to a middle portion of abow handle.

The cams can be arranged both directly on the crossbow frame or the bowhandle and on appropriate holders, wherein the holders can be made fixed(i.e., rigid), as well as movable (or flexible).

A string at least partially wraps each of the cams.

Both the crossbow and the bow are fitted with cables connecting each camwith at least one of the loose ends of the corresponding limb.

Advantages of the crossbow and the bow according to the presentinvention will be described below in details with references to drawingsillustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention which is,however, not limited by the described embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-7 show top plan views of embodiments of a crossbow in accordancewith the present invention.

FIGS. 8-10 show side elevation views of embodiments of a bow inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-7 show various embodiments of a crossbow in accordance with thepresent invention.

In general, the crossbow comprises a frame 1 with a front side 1.1 and aback side 1.2, a first limb 2 and a second limb 3, a string 4, at leastone first cable 5 and at least one second cable 6, and a first cam 7 anda second cam 8.

The first limb 2 has two ends 2 a, 2 b. The first loose end 2 a of thefirst limb is a loose end, and the second end 2 b of the first limb canbe either a secured end (FIGS. 1-6) or a loose end (FIG. 7). Similarly,the second limb 3 has two ends 3 a, 3 b. The first loose end 3 a of thesecond limb is a loose end, and the second end 3 b of the second limbcan be either a fixed end (FIGS. 1-6) or a loose end (FIG. 7). The fixedends 2 b, 3 b can be attached directly to the frame 1, as shown in FIGS.2, 3, or it can be attached to the frame 1 via corresponding holders 9,10 (FIGS. 1, 4-6). If the ends 2 b, 3 b are the loose ends, the limbs 2,3 can be attached at middle portions thereof to the frame via the limbholders 9, 10, respectively (FIG. 7).

The first limb 2 and the second limb 3 can comprise either one portion(FIGS. 1, 4-7), or more than one portion, e.g. two portions 2.1, 2.2 and3.1, 3.2, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3.

The loose ends of the limbs 2, 3 can be oriented both in an arrow traveldirection (FIGS. 1, 3-6), and in a backward direction of arrow travel(FIG. 2).

The limb holders 9, 10 can be made as separate members which areattached from both sides of the frame 1, or can be a part of the frame1, or can be one integral member (also known as “a riser”) which isattached to the frame 1.

Extended substantially along the frame 1 is an axis 11 of arrow travelalong which the arrow (not shown in Figures) is placed when loading intothe crossbow and travels on firing.

The first cam 7 and the second cam 8 are mounted on opposite sides, afirst side 7 a for the first cam 7 and a second side 8 a for the secondcam 8, of the frame 1 and the axis 11 of arrow travel, respectively. Thefirst cam 7 and the second cam 8 are attached to the frame 1 via a camholder 12 of the first cam and a cam holder 13 of the second cam. Thecam holders 12, 13, a first cam holder 12 and a second cam holder 13,can be both individual separate members or one integral member, and apart of the frame 1, i.e., they can be made integral to the frame 1.

If the cam holders 12, 13 are individual members, they can be made rigid(maintaining the shape and/or dimensions in normal use of the crossbow),i.e. fixed.

Alternatively, the cam holders 12, 13 can be made movable. For instance,the cam holders 12, 13 can be made of a resilient material. Anotherpossible variant includes a movable attachment of the cam holders 12, 13to the frame 1.

The first cam 7 is arranged so that when at least the first end 2 a isat least in a free state (i.e., when the crossbow is not in a drawnstate), the first cam 7 is located entirely between the axis 11 of arrowtravel and the first end 2 a. However, when the crossbow is in the drawnstate, it may be preferable to have the cam 7 partially projected beyondthe overall dimensions of the limb 2. It is further preferable, in caseof the crossbow with the limb 2 having two loose ends as shown in FIG.7, to have the cam 7 entirely between the axis 11 of arrow travel andthe ends 2 a, 2 b, at least when the crossbow is not in the drawn state.

Similarly, the second cam 8 is arranged so that when at least the firstend 3 a is at least in a free state (i.e. when the crossbow is not inthe drawn state), the second cam 8 is located entirely between the axis11 of arrow travel and the first end 3 a. However, when the crossbow isin the drawn state, it may be preferable to have the cam 8 partiallyprojected beyond the overall dimensions of the limb 3. It is furtherpreferable, in case of the crossbow with the limb 3 having two looseends as shown in FIG. 7, to have the cam 8 entirely between the axis 11of arrow travel and the ends 3 a, 3 b, at least when the crossbow is notin the drawn state.

The cams 7, 8 can be any cams well-known to one of ordinary skill in theart.

The string 4 connects the cams 7, 8 and supplies an initial arrow speed.The cables 5, 6 connect the cams 7, 8 to the first ends 2 a, 3 a,respectively, as shown in FIGS. 1-6, or to the first and second ends 2a, 2 b and 3 a, 3 b, respectively, as shown in FIG. 7.

The cables 5, 6 can be attached to the first ends 2 a, 3 a (e.g. asshown in FIGS. 1-3). The cables 5, 6 can extend through the first ends 2a, 3 a and be attached to the frame 1 (FIG. 4), or to the limb holders9, 10 (FIG. 5), or to a foot stirrup 14 (FIG. 6). The cables 5, 6 alsocan extend through the first ends 2 a, 3 a and be attached to the secondends 2 b, 3 b (FIG. 7).

FIGS. 1-7 do not represent all possible embodiments of the crossbow inaccordance with the present invention. One of ordinary skill in the artwould appreciate all other possible embodiments of the crossbow.

When pulling the string 4 back, the cams 7, 8 start rotating about theiraxes of rotation (not shown in Figures). The cables 7, 8 are wrappedaround the cams 7, 8, thus making the first limb 2 and the second limb3, respectively, bended. The more rigid the limbs 2, 3 are and the morethe limbs 2, 3 bend, the higher the initial arrow speed is.

It is preferable to have the first cable 5 entirely arranged on the sameside from the axis 11 of arrow travel as the corresponding first cam 7.Similarly, it is preferable to have the second cable 6 entirely arrangedon the same side from the axis 11 of arrow travel as the correspondingsecond cam 8. In this case, the cables 5, 6 will not intersect the axis11 of arrow travel, i.e., not interfere with the path of arrow loadingand not intersect the arrow travel.

FIGS. 8-10 show embodiments of a bow in accordance with the presentinvention.

In general, the bow comprises a handle 15 having a midpoint 15.1 with afront side 1.1 and a back side 1.2, a first limb and second limb, astring 4, at least one first cable 5 and at least one second cable 6,and a first cam 7 and a second cam 8.

In the possible embodiments of the bow in accordance with the presentinvention shown in FIGS. 8-10, the first limb consists of two portions2.1 and 2.2, and the second limb consists of two portions 3.1 and 3.2.One skilled in the art would appreciate however that the first limb andthe second limb each can be a one element if the portions 2.1 and 2.2are made as a one-piece and the portions 3.1 and 3.2 are made as aone-piece, too.

The first limb has two ends 2 a, 2 b. The first loose end 2 a of thefirst limb is the loose end, and the second end 2 b of the first limb isthe fixed end. Similarly, the second limb has ends 3 a, 3 b. The firstloose end 3 a of the second limb is the loose end, and the second end 3b of the second limb is fixed. The fixed ends 2 b, 3 b can be attacheddirectly to the handle 15 or, as shown in FIGS. 8-10, can be attached tothe handle 15 via the corresponding holders 9, 10.

Extended substantially transversely to the handle 15 approximately inthe middle portion thereof is an axis 11 of arrow travel along which anarrow (not shown in Figures) is arranged when loading into the bow andtravels on firing.

The first cam 7 and the second cam 8 are mounted on opposite sides ofthe handle 15 and the axis 11 of arrow travel, respectively. The firstcam 7 and the second cam 8 are attached to the handle 15 via a camholder 12 of the first cam and a cam holder 13 of the second cam. Thecam holders 12, 13 can be individual separate members or one integralmember, and can be a part of the handle 15, i.e., they can be madeintegral to the handle 15.

If the cam holders 12, 13 are individual members, they can be made rigid(maintaining the shape and/or dimensions thereof in normal use of thebow), i.e. fixed.

Alternatively, the cam holders 12, 13 can be made movable. For instance,the cam holders 12, 13 can be made of a resilient material. Anotherpossible variant includes a movable attachment of the cam holders 12, 13to the handle 15.

The first cam 7 is arranged so that when at least the first end 2 a isat least in a free state (i.e. when the bow is not in a drawn state),the first cam 7 is located entirely between the axis 11 of arrow traveland the first end 2 a. Similarly, the second cam 8 is arranged so thatwhen at least the first end 3 a is at least in the free state (i.e. whenthe bow is not in the drawn state), the second cam 8 is located entirelybetween the axis 11 of arrow travel and the first end 3 a.

The cams 7, 8 can be any cams well-known to one of ordinary skill in theart.

The string 4 connects the cams 7, 8 and supplies an initial arrow speed.The cables 5, 6 connect the cams 7, 8, respectively, to the first ends 2a, 3 a.

The cables 5, 6 can be attached to the first ends 2 a, 3 a, as shown inFIG. 8. The cables 5, 6 can extend through the first ends 2 a, 3 a andbe attached to the second portions of the limbs 2 b, 3 b, as shown inFIG. 9. The cables 5, 6 can extend through the first ends 2 a, 3 a,further through the second portions of the second portions of the limbs2 b, 3 b and be attached to the first portions of the limbs 2 a, 3 a, asshown in FIG. 10. The one skilled in the art would appreciate otherpossible embodiments of the attachment of the ends of the cables 5, 6that are not shown in Figures, such as on the limb holders 9, 10.

FIGS. 8-10 do not represent all possible embodiments of the bow inaccordance with the present invention. One of ordinary skill in the artwould appreciate all other possible embodiments of the bow.

When pulling the string 4 back, the cams 7, 8 start rotating about theiraxes of rotation (not shown in Figures). The cables 7, 8 are wrappedaround the cams 7, 8, thus bending the first limb and the second limb,respectively. The more rigid the first limb and the second limb are andthe more these limbs bend, the higher the initial arrow speed is.

It is preferable to have the first cable 5 entirely arranged on the sameside from the axis 11 of arrow travel as the corresponding first cam 7.Similarly, it is preferable to have the second cable 6 entirely arrangedon the same side from the axis 11 of arrow travel as the correspondingsecond cam 8. In this case, the cables 5, 6 will not intersect the axis11 of arrow travel, i.e., not interfere with the path of arrow loadingand not intersect the arrow travel.

In addition to the indicated above decrease of the overall dimensionswhile maintaining the firing speed, further advantages of the claimedarrow throwing devices over the known crossbows and bows are worthmentioning.

Firstly, placing the cams closer to the axis of arrow travel and,therefore, to the area which is hand-held by a user during the use of anarrow throwing device allows to reduce the torque developed by saiddevice. This contributes to the more stable holding of the crossbow orbow resulting in lower arm loading, in particular, a user hand loading.

Secondly, since the cams are now displaced from the loose ends of thelimbs, the load applied to these loose ends of the limbs is reduced. Toattach the cam to the loose end of the limb, as used in the knowndevices, a tip of the loose end of the limb has to be provided withopenings and/or cutouts, and therefore the loose end of the limb has tobe reinforced. In addition, during the use of the known devices the camscan slightly shift with respect to attachment axes thereof, thus leadingto additional rotational loads applied to the loose ends of the limb. Ifthe cams are not located at the loose ends of the limbs like in thepresent invention, there is no need to reinforce the loose ends.

Thus, the present invention provides significant advantages over theknown crossbows and bows and yet has no impact on one of the maincharacteristics, namely, the initial speed of arrow flight.

We claim:
 1. A crossbow, comprising: a frame with an axis of arrowtravel extending along said frame; a first limb being connected to saidframe and being comprised of at least one first loose end; a second limbbeing connected to said frame and being comprised of at least one firstloose end; a first cam mounted on a first side of said frame; a secondcam mounted on a second side of said frame, said first side beingopposite said second side along said axis of arrow travel; a firstholder between said first cam and said frame, said first cam beingmounted on said first holder; a second holder between said second camand said frame, said second cam being mounted on said second holder; astring connected to said first cam and said second cam, said stringhaving a free state and a drawn state; at least one first cableextending from said first cam and through said at least one first looseend of the first limb; and at least one second cable extending from saidsecond cam and through said at least one first loose end of the secondlimb; wherein the first cam is arranged entirely between the axis ofarrow travel and said at least one first loose end of the first limb,when said string is in said free state; wherein the second cam isarranged entirely between the axis of arrow travel and said at least onefirst loose end of the second limb, when said string is in said freestate; wherein said at least one first cable is arranged entirely onsaid first side; and wherein said at least one second cable is arrangedentirely on said second side.
 2. The crossbow of claim 1, wherein the atleast one first cable further extends to a surface on the first side ofthe frame; and wherein the at least one second cable further extends toa surface on the second side of the frame.
 3. The crossbow of claim 1,wherein the at least one first cable further extends to a first limbholder connecting the first limb to the frame; and wherein the at leastone second cable further extends to a second limb holder connecting thesecond limb to the frame.
 4. The crossbow of claim 1, further comprisinga foot stirrup connected to the frame; wherein the at least one firstcable further extends to a first side of said foot stirrup; and whereinthe at least one second cable further extends to a second side of saidfoot stirrup.
 5. The crossbow of claim 1, wherein the at least one firstcable further extends to a second loose end of the first limb; andwherein the at least one second cable further extends to a second looseend of the second limb.
 6. A crossbow of claim 5, wherein the at leastone first cable extends through a first limb holder between the at leastone first loose end and the second loose end of the first limb, whereinthe first limb holder connects the first limb to the frame; and whereinthe at least one second cable further extends through a second limbholder between the at least one first loose end and the second loose endof the second limb, wherein the second limb holder connects the secondlimb to the frame.
 7. A crossbow, comprising: a frame with an axis ofarrow travel extending along said frame; a first limb being connected tosaid frame and being comprised of at least one first loose end, whereinthe first limb is comprised of two or more limb portions; a second limbbeing connected to said frame and being comprised of at least one firstloose end, wherein the second limb is comprised of two or more limbportions; a first cam mounted on a first side of said frame; a secondcam mounted on a second side of said frame, said first side beingopposite said second side along said axis of arrow travel; a firstholder between said first cam and said frame, said first cam beingmounted on said first holder; a second holder between said second camand said frame, said second cam being mounted on said second holder; astring connected to said first cam and said second cam, said stringhaving a free state and a drawn state; at least one first cableconnected to said first cam and said at least one first loose end of thefirst limb; and at least one second cable connected to said second camand said at least one first loose end of the second limb; wherein thefirst cam is arranged entirely between the axis of arrow travel and saidat least one first loose end of the first limb, when said string is insaid free state; wherein the second cam is arranged entirely between theaxis of arrow travel and said at least one first loose end of the secondlimb, when said string is in said free state; wherein said at least onefirst cable is arranged entirely on said first side; and wherein said atleast one second cable is arranged entirely on said second side.
 8. Abow, comprising: a handle having a midpoint and an axis of arrow travelextending through said midpoint and transverse to said handle; a firstlimb being connected to said handle and being comprised of at least onefirst loose end; a second limb being connected to said handle and beingcomprised of at least one first loose end; a first cam mounted on afirst side of said handle; a second cam mounted on a second side of saidhandle, said first side being opposite said second side at said midpointof said handle along said axis of arrow travel; a first holder with saidfirst cam mounted on said first holder; a second holder with said secondcam being mounted on said second holder; a string connected to saidfirst cam and said second cam, said string having a free state and adrawn state; at least one first cable extending from said first cam andthrough said at least one first loose end of the first limb; and atleast one second cable extending from said second cam and through saidat least one first loose end of the second limb; wherein the first camis arranged entirely between the axis of arrow travel and said at leastone first loose end of the first limb, when said string is in said freestate; wherein the second cam is arranged entirely between the axis ofarrow travel and said at least one first loose end of the second limb,when said string is in said free state; wherein said at least one firstcable is arranged entirely on said first side; and wherein said at leastone second cable is arranged entirely on said second side.
 9. The bow ofclaim 8, wherein said first limb is comprised of a first limb portionand a second limb portion; and wherein said second limb is comprised ofa first limb portion and a second limb portion.
 10. The bow of claim 9,wherein said at least one first loose end of the first limb is disposedon said first limb portion of the first limb; and wherein said at leastone first loose end of the second limb is disposed on said first limbportion of the second limb.
 11. The bow of claim 10, wherein the atleast one first cable further extends to said second limb portion of thefirst limb; and wherein the at least one second cable further extends tosaid second limb portion of the second limb.
 12. The bow of claim 10,wherein said at least one first cable further extends through saidsecond limb portion of said first limb, and extends to said first limbportion of said first limb; wherein said at least one second cablefurther extends through said second limb portion of said second limb andextends to said first limb portion of said second limb.